Electric motor follow-up transmitting apparatus



July 12, 1949.

J. G. MEJEAN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOLLOW-UP TRANSMITTING APPARATUS Filed March 27, 1946 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR ATTORN EY July 12, 1949. J. G. MEJEAN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOLLOW-UP TRANSMITTING APPARATUS 5 Sheets-Shet 2 Filed March 27, 1946 July 12, 1949.

J. G. MEJEAN ELECTRIC MOTOR FOLLCW-UP TRANSMITTING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed March 27, 1946 @7 ATTORNEY Patented July 12, 1949 ELECTRIC MOTOR FOLLOW-UP TRANS- MITTING APPARATUS Jacques G. Mejean, Greenwich, Conn., assignor, by mesne assignments, to The Aerotec Corporation, Greenwich, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application March 27, 1946, Serial No. 657,579

16 Claims.

My present invention relates to an electric transmitting apparatus for measuring and transmitting displacements, pressures, temperatures, liquid levels, speeds and other measurements, and for electric distance control.

In my invention a displacement of an element such as a pressure indicator or a speed indicator, etc., is transmitted in such away as to cause an equal or proportionate displacement of an indicating or control element at a distance.

In the apparatus of my invention an actuating element thus displaced at the sending station serves to move a control switch at the sending station to connect one or the other of a pair of branched circuits to a source of electric energy such as a battery or electric generator.

Each branch of the circuit comprises a pair of electrically actuated reciprocating elements as for example a pair of solenoids and a core or armature actuated thereby. One such solenoid or actuating element of each circuit is positioned near a sending station switch that may connect the branch circuits alternately with the source of electricity. The other of each of the Solenoids or electrically actuated elements is located at a distance to which the displacements are to be transmitted.

Between these latter solenoids or actuating means and the opposite pole of the source of electric energy is a vibrating or make and break switch which connects the branch circuits alternately in successive cycles with the source of electric energy. Accordingly this vibrating switch periodically connects the branch circuits alternatively with the source of electric energy.

When a displacing element such as a temperature, pressure or level indicator at the sending station is displaced it swings the sending station switch to connect one of the branch circuits to the source of electric energy. Inasmuch as this circuit is intermittently connected to the source of energy a pulsating or intermittent current passes through the corresponding solenoid or electrically actuated mechanism. This mechanism acts as a ratchet on a switch actuating mechanism to return the switch at the sending station to its original position; at the same time equal pulsations or interruptions of current in the same circuit act on the corresponding solenoid or actuating element at the distant station to rotate or move in a similar manner an indicating element.

The distant actuated element may be calibrated in terms of the sending station movement, or it may be used to control or actuate any suit- 2 able control mechanism. Its movements will accordingly be the same as, or in exact proportion to, those of the sending element and its time of movement will be substantially identical with that of the sending element.

A displacement of the sending element in the opposite direction will similarly connect the other branch circuit causing a movement in the reverse direction of both the switch operating element and the distant actuated element until the neutral position of the switch is restored.

Means may also be provided to open the circuit from the source of electric energy when the sending switch is in mid position and thereby avoid unnecessary use of electric current.

The switch at the sending station comprises a pair of terminal plates in fixed relation to each other and slightly spaced or insulated from each other. It also comprises a contact roller which in mid position spans the distance between the insulated contact plates connecting both branch circuits to the source of electric energy, or when displaced relative to the contact plates, will connect one or the other alternatively depending upon the direction in which it is moved.

It will be understood that a relative movement is all that is required so that either the plates or the roller may be directly actuated by the indicator mechanism. The spacing of the plates may be very small and a very slight movement relative to the roller will cause the actuation of the corresponding branch circuit until the roller is in mid position and a corresponding indication will be made at the distant station.

The various features of the invention are illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a diagrammatic sketch of the apparatus showing the electric circuits and the principle of operation;

Fig. 2 is a vertical section of a transmitter or sending switch and actuating mechanism;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the intermittent switch or flashing mechanism;

Fig. 4 is a section on line 4--4 of the flashing mechanism of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view of a relay mechanism to interrupt the current to the branch circuits when the transmitter is in mid position;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the receiving mechanism;

Fig. '7 is a vertical section of the receiving mechanism;

Fig. 8 is a sectional view of the apparatus for transforming the movements of the receiving apparatus into pressure changes.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1 of the accompanying drawings, a source I of electric energy is connected at one pole to a conductor leadingt'o aroller l2 of the sending-'ontransmitting control switch. The opposite pole of the battery or other source of electric energy is connected through a conductor l3 and a relay switch l4 to a vibrating or make and break switch I 5 which is swung or otherwise moved first in. one direction to a terminal I 6 of one branch. circuit and then to a terminal llof a? parallel branch circuit.

When the switch I5 is in contact with the terminal I6 current passes from the source of electricity through a conductor" [8-, thence througha solenoid l9 and a branch circuit conductor 20 to and through a second solenoid 2| from which itpasses through a. conductor 22 to a terminal 23. Similarly when theswit'clr l5is contact with" the terminal current passes through a conductor 24, solenoid 2'5, branch circuit conduct'or 20, solenoid 21 and conductor Z-B'toa second contact plate 29 closely spaced from and insulated from the plate 23;

It will be-understoodthat the solenoids 2 and 21 are at the sending station and that the solenoids l9 and 25 are atthe distant station; It will al'so'be understood thattthe conductors I8, 20 24 and 25 may bea conductor'wire as' illustrated in the drawings; or may be in" part a wireless or radio transmitter system. of any suitable type.

The latter is not illustrated as; it is standard construction amt no: way changes the operati'on of the apparatus.

When the: roller- I2; is in. midi position as indicated' in Fig.- 1. it is in contact with. both of. the

plates- 23' and. 2-9;. If the wires l3. and [5: were directly connected. cur-rent; would, flow intermittently through both of; thebranch. circuits. To avoid this unnecessary flow of current therelay I4 is interposed between. these. wires. and. comprises two pairs of: contacts 30 and. 31-. controlled by solenoids.- 32. and 331 respectively so. as to be openedwhen. their respective. solenoids are energized..

These solenoids, which are of. high resistance, are. shuntedbetween. the wire l3. and. the respective branch wires. 20 and 26. so that. when. both branch. circuits are connected. to the. conductor as in the. mid position shownin Fig 1', both of the solenoids. 32. and 313' will be energized and both of the contact switches 30' and; 3| opened. Consequently no current will flow through the conductor I5 to either. of the branch circuits.

Relative motion between the roller contact l2 andthe plates 23' and 29 is caused by a displacing element 34 which may be under control of a pressure,. temperature, level or other actuated mechanism acting. through a suitable connector 351:0. move. the roller l2 from mid position onto one of the plates 23 or 29; and out of contact with the other. When this occurs thesolenoids in only one of these branch circuits will be energized. At the same time one of the relay switch solenoids 32 or 33 will be. de-energize'd, the correspending contact. 30' or 3| closed so-that current is now free to pass through the vibrator i5. and intermittently through one or the other of the branch circuit-s.

For example if the roller i2 moved upwardly onto plate 23 and. from plate 29 the solenoid; 33

of the relay will be de-energized', the contacts 3| closed and current will pass intermittently through the vibrator l5 to the terminal I6, thence through the conductor l8, solenoid l9, conductor 20, solenoid 2| and conductor 22 to the plate 23 and return through the wire ll. With eachvibration of the make and break contact switch l5 the solenoids l9 and 2| will be energized and de-energized.

The energizing and de-energizing of the solenoids i9 and 21h serves to reciprocate corresponding cores-or armatures 38 and 3'! which in turn act as ratchets on wheels 38 and 39 respectively, serving. thereby to move these ratchet wheels with-astep. by step'motion. This motion of the ratchet wheel. Sills transmitted to a shaft 40 journalled in fixed bearings 4| and 42 and having a screw threaded length i3 threaded through a block W on which the plates 23 and 29 are mounted.

Thev ratchet. and the screw 43 are so related as to cause the block' 44' to move upwardly relative to the roller l-2' until mid position is again attained whereupon. the intermittent current will" be interrupted; at the-same" time the ratchet 38 which is fixed on a shaft 45 mounted inbearings 0B and GT will rotate a screw 48 onwhich is mounted a nut 42% carryi'nng an indicator 511" and moving adjacent a scale 51.

Inasmuch as the pulsations of. current through the solenoids |'9 and 2| are identical the cores 3E and. 31 will each reciprocate simultaneously or synchronously and the distance through which the indicator 50 moves will be identical with, or in fixed proportion to, the movement of the block 44 required to. compensate or equal the movement of the roller I2; In this way the indication or the element 34" will be transmitted instantly and; exactly to the, indicator 50 where it may be observed or where it may serve to actuate a control apparatus.

If the roller I2 should be drawn downwardly ontothe plate 2 9. and out of contact with. the plate 25- the reverse, movement would takeplace. In this case the solenoid- 32. would be tie-energized; the. contacts 30 closed and. currentwould flow intermittently through thevibrator or make and break. switch t5 to the terminal. I1 and thence through conductor 24?, solenoid 25,. conductor 26, solenoid 2.1- andconductor 28 to. the plate 29. In this case the solenoids 2-5. and 21 would be intermittently energized. and de-energized and would reciprocate the cores 52 and 53 which serve as r-atchets, to drive the ratchet wheels 54 andv 55 rigidly mounted on the shafts 45 and 4.0 respectively and arranged to rotate the shafts and the screws 4'8 and. 43 in an opposite direction until the-block 44 is lowered suffi'ciently to bring. the roller |2 into mid. position relative tosthe plates 2 3 and 29.

It will be understood that the relay mechanisms 3'i|'33 merely interrupt the. flow of currentwhen both branches are closed. through. the roller l2 thus avoidin unnecessary waste of. current and action. on the respective solenoids and cores. The branch circuits might, of. course, be interrupted by having the roller out of contact. with both plates in mid position but in that case the plates could not be spaced so closely together.

In the above apparatus. the plates may be so closely spaced that a very smallmovement oi the roller, as small as 0.0003", will serve to move it out of contact with one or theother of the plates and set the displacing mechanism into action. By having a roller contact as above describedlthis very line control is obtained and moreover is independent of the pressure of the roller on the plates, which may be made sufficient to insure adequate electrical contact.

The action of the apparatus may be made very rapid by making the cycles of vibration of the element l 5 very rapid as, for example, fifty cycles per second.

In Fig. 2 is illustrated a preferred embodiment of the transmitting mechanism. This mecha nism comprises a housing 55 having a mounting flange 51 at one end, the upper end as shown in Fig. 5, and closed at its lower end 58 about a jcurnal or bushing 59. Movement is transmitted from the actuating element, such as the pressure, temperature or level indicating device, through a stem which extends upwardly through the bushing 59 into the housing 553 and is provided at its upper end with a flat bearing surface 6!.

From the bearing surface 6! upward movement is transmitted through a ball to the lower end of a hollow stem 63 resting on the ball The stem 63 is provided with a spring arm 6 on which is mounted the roller !2. The stem is guided in its lower end by a guide plate 65 secured at its upper end to a supportin plate by of hollow screw bl and having a suitabl. Mling opening in a lower horizontal extension i i The stem 63 is provided with a central or axial bore 63 in which is positioned a slidin pin or piston l'U countersunk at its upper end to receive the pointed end of a screw H threaded in an icon lated bushing.

It will be apparent, therefore. that upward movement of the transmitting pin til will serve to lift the hollow stem 53 upwardly relative to the pin or piston Ill. When the pin 58 is lowered the stem 83 is forced downwardly by a spring iii con-- fined between a shoulder .63 on the lower end of the stem 63 and an outwardly extending flange it on the upper end of the piston it.

Secured to the flange 'M and surrounding the spring 12 is an insulating support for the pair of spaced contact plates and 29 r tively. The upper plate is connected by of a contact connector l'fl forming circuit 22 connected by an insulated post 5 strip 18 to a binding post This bins-lip is connected to solenoid 2! through connec one not shown. Similarly the plate 29 is connected to the other solenoid 2'!.

These solenoids are mounted on a base plate 80 supported on a top plate ill on the fl nge They are preferably enclosed within a c in or housing 82. The reciprocating elements or armatures 3'! and 53 are mounted on a plate 33 on the top wall of the casing 32 resiliently retained in upper position by a spring t l. At their opposite ends they carry spring pawls 355 which engage the teeth of the ratchet wheels 39 and These wheels being arranged as indicated in Fig. 1 to be actuated in opposite or reverse directions.

The shaft 40 on which the ratchets and E are suitably supported in the casing and the worm 43 acts on a gear at which is in turn mount-- ed on a vertical shaft 81. This shaft is slidably coupled to the upper end of the rotatable pin H by a suitable slot and key connection It will be apparent, therefore, that when the ratchets 39 and are rotated in one direction the other the shaft or screw 5% will be rotated through the transmitting mechanism thereby raise or lower the pin it on which the supporting plate 15 and the contact plates 23 and 28 are mounted.

For example, if the transmitting pin 66 is lifted the roller IZ will b lifted relative to the support 15 out of contact with the lower plate 29 and into contact with the upper plate 23. Current will flow through the solenoid 2i and the armature 3'! and its ratchet will be actuated in such a direction as to raise the screw El and permit the spring 12 to force upwardly the pin Til. the supporting block l5 and the contact plates 23 and 29 until the roller 52 again reaches a relative midway position, whereupon further movement will cease.

Similarly if the transmitting pin 50 drops the bushing G23 and roller will drop and a reverse movement i ll a. in motion continue til the block is lowered. suniciently to bring the roller iii to relative mid position.

The roller it may be connected to ground through its supporting spring t l, the hollow stem guide 65 and housing of the mechanism. Only two binding post connections 79 will, therefore, be necessary.

A spring pressed brake 89 bearing against the surface of the ratchet wheels and serves to hold them in position and agai .st any rotation while the spring pawls are withdrawn.

Owing to the alternating movement of the armature and the step by step movement of the ratchet wheels 39 and 55 no part of the mechcan attain a speed that would cause overriding or hunting. Consequently when the part so attains a position corresponding to the moving element 35 it stops without overrun and return.

The make and break or flasher element !5 sends I impulses of current alternately in both of the solenoids 2| and E9 or 21 and 25. These impulses must regularly spaced and the frequency of impulses should not be overly sensitive to variation in voltage.

In the embodiment of the flasher, as shown in Fig. 3, an insulated rocking arm 90 is mounted between pointed pivot pins 9| and 52, Fig. 4, between supporting plates 93 and 94 in a housing or enclosing case 95. A pair of spring contact arms 96 and 97 are mounted on the rocking arm at in position to contact in alternate succession the fixed contacts l6 and I! of the parallel branch circuits. "W

The spring contacts 96 and 9'! are connected by suitable connectors to the conductor [3 and to the opposite pole of the battery from that connected to the roller I2.

The contacts 16 and ll are supported on separate insulated spring arms 98 and 99 respectively and to separate insulated binding posts H63 and it]! to which the conductors l8 and 24 are connected.

A spring I62 bearing against the rocking arm til serves to press contact 91 against the spring 99 and contact H.

A solenoid H 3 in the housing is provided with a rocking armature l 04 pivoted at I05 and having a hammer I06 so positioned above the arm 99 that when a momentary current is sent through the solenoid and the armature I04 is attracted the hammer H35 kicks or hits the rocking arm 96 so as to rock it counterclockwise separating the contacts l1 and 9! and closing the contacts 536 and i5. The spring I02 then returns the arm 90 to its original position to be again kicked or hit by a subsequent impulse of current through the solenoid H33.

Inasmuch as the arm 90 is balanced it acts similarly to a pendulum and has a natural period of swing and is, therefore, not sensitive to changes inthe intensity of the. blow of the. hammer I36 and its period of rotation or vibration is thus not substantially affected by changes in the voltage through the solenoid I03. Also being balanced it 'is not. affected by vibrations or changes in position.

The effect of a stronger impulse or blow from the hammer I06 merely causes the arm 90 to swing inasomewhat wider are but without substantial change in frequency.

The purpose of the relay mechanism 3Il-33 is tocut ofE all current in the coils when the roller I2 shorts-thev copper strips 23-29 and, therefore, when the indicator 50: shows the correct reading.

An embodiment of a suitable relay mechanism for this purpose is illustrated by way of example in Fig, of the drawings. In this embodiment the coils or solenoids 32 and 33 are mounted on a bracket IN on an. insulated plate I08. One

contact terminal I09 of the switch 30 is mounted on an insulating block III] adjacent the solenoid 32. Am armature II I carried on aninsulated spring H2 at oneside of. the solenoid is provided with an arm '3: extending alongside of the solenoid. and having: a foot II4 bearing against a complementary'contact I-I.-5. mounted on a spring Md and normally pressing into contact with the fixed. contact; Iilld.

When the solenoid 32' is energized it attracts the armature. III: swinging it and its arm H3 counterclockwise: thereby pushing the foot H4 andzth'er spring I .I:Iioutwardly and separating the contact II5 from the contact I09. The contacts I99 and M5: are suitably connected to the conductor I 3 as indicated: in Fig. 1'. The solenoid 33 is provided? with similar contacts which are, therefore, marked the drawings with the same reference characters;

An embodiment of the receiving or distant indicator is shown. in; Eigs-.. 6; and '7. In this embodiment the various elements are mounted in a casing I:II" having a base IIB. The various elements are mounted between a base plate II9 on the base H8 and a plate I: secured to the top of the-casinge The solenoids I9 and are mounted on the baseplate H9 and are suitably connected to the conductors I8, 20, 24 and 2B. These connections are not shown in Figs. 6 and 7". The armatures 36 and 52 are mounted on suitable bracketslzl and I22 depending from the upper plate I 20 normally held in position by springs I23.

The shaft 45' and the ratchet wheels rigidly mounted thereon are mounted between a pair of brackets I24 and I-25 depending from the upper plate I20.

Each of the armatures is provided with a depending-spring pawl I 26 to engage the ratchet wheels 38 and 54" respectively; It will be understood that these ratchet wheelshave their notches engaged reversely and that the spring pawl of the armature 52' acts onits pawl on one side of the shaft 54 and the spring pawl of the armature 3'6 acts on its ratchet on the opposite side with the result that" a downward movement of the armature 52 will rotate the shaft 45 in one direction and a downward movement of the armature 36 will rotate its ratchet in the opposite direction.

A spring brake I21 supported on a block I28 on the plate H9 and bearing against surfaces of the respective ratchet wheels serves to hold them from rotation except under the action of their respective armatures.

The worm 48; rigidly fixed on the shaft 45,

meshes with. a gear wheel I29 rigidly mounted on a shaft I30 journalled at its upper end in the plate I25 and extending through the lower plate I I e and the base II8 into a recess I3! in the lower surface of the base IIB.

A pointer I32 is mounted on the projecting end of the shaft I39 turning with the latter over an indicating or calibrated plate I33 secured to the bottom of the recess I3I. The recess may be protected by a glass window I34.

Inasmuch as the armatures I9 and 25 are actuated simultaneously withv the armatures 2| and 21 the pointer I32 will swing in exact relation or proportion to the movement of the sending element 34 and will give an exact and immediate indication of the position of the latter.

Fig. 8 illustrates an embodiment of the apparatus for transforming the indications of the armatures I9 and 25 into a pressure indication. In this case the indicating apparatus may be an exact replica of that shown in Fig. 2 except that the contact wheel or roller I2 and the insulated plates 23 and 29 may be omitted.

The indicating apparatus is contained within a depending casing I35 which contains a piston I36 similar to the piston H! of Fig. 2 and acted upon by a screw similar to screw ll, Fig. 2, and driven by the shaft I30 through a suitable connection.

The piston I36 has an outward flange l3! at its upper end and projects into a hollow stem I328, similar to the stem Ill of Fig. 2, confining a spring I39 similar to the spring 12. Downward movement of the piston I35 is, therefore, transmitted through the spring I39 to the hollow stem F38, its movement is in turn transmitted through a ball Mt to a plate MI mounted on thelower end of a bellows I42 which at its upper edge is sealed to the casing I35. The lower end of the casing I35 is, therefore, enclosed and sealed by the bellows so that a downward movement of the plate MI will decrease the effective volume of this part of the casing and compress or put under pressure fluid contained therein which may then be transmitted through an opening I43 leading to any suitable indicating or control apparatus.

It will be understood that this embodiment is given merely as an illustration of a manner in which a pressure or other indication at the sending station may be exactly duplicated at the distance or receiving station.

What I claim is:

1. Electric displacement transmitting apparatus which comprises a source of electric energy; a pair of branch circuits in parallel, each branch. circuit comprising a pair of spaced electrically actuated reciprocating elements; a switch comprising. a pair of spaced terminals, one for each branch circuit, and a connecting terminal connected to said source of electric energy and in mid position incontact with both terminals, said pair of terminals and said connecting terminal being movable relatively from said mid position to open one or the other of said branch circuits alternatively; a movable element movable in one direction by one of the reciprocating elements of one of said branch circuits to close said connecting terminal to one of said spaced terminals of said switch and in the opposite direction of one of the reciprocating elements of the other branch circuit to close said connecting terminal to the other of said spaced terminals; a second movable element actuated similarly in opposite directions by the other reciprocating elements of 9 said branch circuits; and a switch connecting said branch circuits to said source of electric energy alternately in successive cycles.

2. Electric displacement transmitting apparatus which comprises an electric circuit having a pair of parallel branches each of said branches having a high resistance relay circuit; a switch to open and close said branches in alternate recurring cycles and controlled by said relays; a control switch in neutral position closing both said branches and movable from neutral position in reverse direction to open one of said'branch circuits and close the other; a translating mechanism actuated in opposite directions by intermittent impulses in said branch circuits to return said switch to neutral position and a second translating device actuated by the intermittent impulses in said branch circuits to move in proportion to the movement of said first translating mechanism.

.3. Electric displacement transmitting apparatus which comprises an electric circuit having a pair of parallel branches; a switch to open and close said branches in alternate recurring cycles; a control switch comprising a terminal unit having a pair of terminals one for each said branch in closely spaced insulated relation and a connector in neutral position closing both said terminals and displaceable in opposite directions from neutral position relatively to said unit to open said branches alternatively; a translating mechanism actuated in opposite directions by intermittent impulses in said branch circuits to return said unit to neutral relative position relative to said connector; and a second translating device actuated by the intermittent impulses in said branch circuits to move in proportion to the movement of said first translating mechanism.

4. Electric displacement transmitting apparatus which comprises an electric circuit having a pair of parallel branches each branch having a high resistance relay circuit; a switch to open and close said branches in alternate recurring cycles; a control switch having a pair of contacts in fixed spacial relation and movable as a unit, one of said contacts being connected to one branch and the other to the other, and a contact in neutral position closing both said contacts and movable relatively to said spaced contacts to open one or the other of said branch circuits; a translating mechanism actuating in opposite directions by intermittent impulses in said branch circuits and acting on said pair of spaced contacts to move them as a unit relative to said connecting contact and a second translating device actuated in opposite direction by intermittent impulses in said branch circuits to move in proportion to the movements of said first translating mechanism.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 in which said terminals comprise a pair of plates in alignment and slightly spaced and in which said connector comprises a roller to roll from one plate to the other.

6. The apparatus of claim 2 in which each said translating mechanism comprises a magnetically actuated ratchet.

'7. The apparatus of claim 2 which comprises a magnetically actuated switch to disconnect both branch circuits when said control switch closes both said branch circuits.

8. A control switch which comprises a movable terminal block having a pair of aligned, insulated, spaced, terminal plates; a stem parallel to the alignment of said plates, a contact carrier having a hollow shaft on said stem and movable longitudinally thereof in the direction of alignment of said terminal plates, a roller carried by said carrier and pressing on both said plates in mid position and movable out of contact with each of said plates alternatively as said contact carrier moves in reverse directions lengthwise of said stem; a spring confined between said carrier and said block and an intermittently actuated electromagnetic means to move said block in an axial direction relative to said carrier.

9. The control switch of claim 8 in which said electromagnetic means compries a pair of ratchet Wheels actuated in opposite directions and transmission means from said ratchet wheels to said terminal block.

10. The control switch of claim 8 in which said intermittently actuated electromagnetic means comprises a pair of ratchets acting in opposite directions and a transmission from said ratchet to said movable block and comprising a fixed nut and a screw threaded therein and rotatable by said ratchets to bear against said terminal block.

11. Electric displacement apparatus which comprises a control switch having a movable terminal block carrying a pair of aligned, insulated, spaced, terminal plates, a contact carrier movable in the direction of alignment of said terminal plates, a connector carried by said carrier and in contact with both said plates in mid position and movable to move into and out of contact with each of said plates alternatively as said carrier moves in reverse directions; branch circuits, one connected to each said terminal; an intermittently actuated electromagnetic means in each said branch circuit to move said block in reverse directions relative to said carrier and a second pair of electromagnetic means, one in each said circuit to move a translatable element in proportion to the movement of said block.

12. The apparatus of claim 11 comprising an intermittent switch to close said branch circuits alternatively in recurring cycles.

13. A control switch which comprises a hollow shaft; a stem slidable axially in said hollow shaft; an insulating block mounted on said stem; a pair of aligned, insulated, spaced, terminal plates mounted on said block; a spring mounted on said hollow shaft; a roller carried on said spring to press against both said plates and to roll out of contact with one plate or the other upon relative movements in reverse direction of said stern and said shaft and a spring confined between said shaft and said stem to resiliently press said stem in an axial direction relative to said hollow shaft.

14. The control switch of claim 13 including a threaded screw bearing on said stem and a pair of electromagnetically actuated ratchets to rotate said screw.

15. Electric displacement apparatus which comprises a pair of closely spaced insulated terminal plates, a contact roller contacting the adjacent edges of said plates, said roller and plates being relatively movable in reverse directions to open contact alternatively with one terminal plate or the other, a pair of high resistance branch relay circuits connected, one to one terminal plate and the other to the other terminal plate, branch circuits each having a relay switch controlled by one of said relay circuits and open when said relay circuits are closed and an intermittent sszvitchv to connect said branch ciricuitsl alte matively; in recurring cycIes FOREIGN PATENTS tpdsaid 8011108- of. eleqtric enemy. 20 Number Qouritny Date JACQUES. G. 319,861: Greaie Britain Us... 7 06L 3 ,,1929

clpsed' when its respective relay cirm ii: is; open, REFERENGESCITED akin-terminal switch Open? 941d- Qms-e said The following neferenlces are of record inthe r n h, ircuit at successive interv s andi rans: of thispatm. iaising, echa ms. n aid;v r nch i u s, one oi said tran slarging, mechanisms of east; 5 STATES PATENTS" cir cuii; ecmnect ed to move said rollerand Number Name Date, contact. plates relatively in a directiqn opgqs'rte 3 g1- Semi 4;, 18.873 mzhapiof th ko h 1:,q e,f7;e5- Janette: .Eeh, 21,1912

I- Th l. Switch o 3, nc udin 58 8 m 1915 a. pairoi electzoma net ical y actuated at hets, 1, 1,732. mm i h fin 1 3; 19137 a p r of. b anch, lectr cicircuits one circuit in 152625.253 m Ann 9, 3 series; with each said eleptriomaenetical x a tu- 11,596,512, White H Der-1., 25); 9.28 aged-i ratchet to rotatesaild. ratchets one in one 1,767,1(14 Volkmant eta a1, J1me, 24,. 1930 dir ct ndt ri in the pp ite: di e tion, *1-,-,734,5 04, Ilanngn 1 means. actuated. by, said ratchets, to move said 16 1,353,506: Gamer" Apr; 1-2, 1932- stem alternatively in opposite directions, a 1 33 5 11' tm n Hey; 8, 1932 sour e o flctricfinfi ynn c d-Ito. said roller 2,342,;zm Yardeny Feb. 29; 1944 

